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Report RE: Need to get this off my chest
Original Post
RE: Need to get this off my chest - 23-11-08 11:23
by: my only friend is the wind
Tish501,
Even though I have huge sympathy with the difficulties that you face as an owner/manager, I have got to say that if your staff are not demonstrating good practise then the responsibility is all yours. Harsh I know, but you opened the Nursery and if you employ these people, not only does it reflect badly on you but it makes the whole sector look unprofessional. Surely you know that if the proverbial hits the fan, you are accountable!
Nursery owners/managers cannot expect to stay friends with their staff. Staff need guidance and if you want to keep your nursery open then you need to give it, regardless.
Do they really drink tea in the presence of the children? 2 staff at a Sure Start Nursery in East Anglia who were involved in a child scolding him/her self were sacked this week. Plus the Manager will have been dragged through the mill for allowing this to happen. I personally feel that the general perception of my Nursery is a direct reflection on me. To this end I would not tolerate the behaviour of your staff, I would spend every spare hour of my time trying to replace these people.
I would love to be able to try and give you some ideas to help you rather that just criticising, but you sound like your situation has developed into an impossible one.....
........Staff can easily loose respect for their provision if they do not feel valued, perhaps some incentives in that area might help. On the other hand not putting the children first should result in immediate action from yourself, I think we are talking "carrot and stick" approach here. Maybe you could bring in a more mature member of staff, there are good level 3's (and unquals) out there, even volunteers. Don't let your interviewing experiences to date stop you looking for good people - they are out there!!!
The problem is, that like most of us, when you went into childcare you probably never expected to have to play hard ball with your employees. It's not nice, and you will feel like **it. But someones got to do it.
Good luck sorting it out.